The Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia (pronounced: /ɑːrˈkeɪdiɑː/ ar-KAY-dee-a[9] 
listen) was the Outer Plane representing alignments between lawful neutral and lawful good in the Great Wheel cosmology model.[10] Some characteristics of this plane were ascribed to the World Tree cosmology planes of Dwarfhome,[11] House of the Triad,[12] and even Dweomerheart[13] when that cosmology became popular. Dwarfhome and the House of the Triad (which became known as Celestia) survived the Spellplague[14] and became part of the World Axis cosmology. Dweomerheart was destroyed at the start of the Spellplague.[15]
Description[]
Arcadia connected to Seven Heavens, Nirvana, and Concordant Opposition by portals made of either white ivory or black steel, shaped like flower trellises. These portals were few in number but rested at fixed locations in the first layer. Little is known about the other two layers.[1]
Abellio[]
Abellio was the first layer of Arcadia in the Great Wheel cosmology. An endless stretch of orderly plains dotted with a few mountains and hills, it contained the divine realms of Clangeddin Silverbeard and Marduk.[17][18][19]
Buxenus[]
A representation of the layers of Arcadia, according to the Great Wheel Cosmology. Hovering over the map will reveal main features. Clicking will link to the article for that location.
Buxenus was the second layer of Arcadia in the Great Wheel cosmology. It contained the divine realms of Azuth and Savras, as well as Heliopolis, the shared divine realm of Horus-Re, Isis, Osiris, and Ra of the Mulhorandi pantheon. [20][18][21][22]
Orb of Day and Night[]
The Orb of Day and Night was a great sphere perched atop Arcadia's highest peak, with one half glowing and the other half dark. It rotated evenly and continually, at all times illuminating one half of the infinite plane and leaving the rest in natural darkness. This caused day and night in Arcadia, though there was no twilight, just day and night.[18]
Inhabitants[]
Many woodland creatures roamed the mountains, hills, forests, and fields of Arcadia. They resembled Prime Material creatures except for their coloring, which was metallic like the trees, and their eyes, which were white without iris or pupil. Examples included copper colored rabbits, golden foxes, and sheep with silver wool. Organized, hive-dwelling insects such as ants, bees, and wasps were also found in this plane. None of the animals could speak but all were peaceful in nature and native to the Outer Planes so they were unaffected by magics that usually worked on Prime Material creatures. In addition, their eyes allowed them to see through any illusion and the more intelligent animals could be trained into superb watch beasts.[1]
The primary inhabitants of Arcadia were the spirit legions formed from the souls of good and lawful warriors, much like their evil counterparts in Acheron. Other sentient creatures that dwelled in Arcadia included hollyphants, planetars, foo creatures and the occasional deva. It was not uncommon to see creatures from neighboring planes visiting: shedu, greater and lesser lammasu, and ki-rin for example.[1]
Realms[]
- Azuth the High One, Patron of Magic Users, once had a realm sharing his name on the layer of Buxenus.[23][24][25]
- Clangeddin Silverbeard, the dwarven Father of Battle once commanded an impenetrable fortress carved out of a mountain located near the peak that held the sphere of day and night. It was said that this mountain redoubt was big enough to house all the dwarves on the Prime Material Plane.[26][27]
- Marduk the Valiant of the Untheric pantheon once made his home also named Marduk in Arcadia in a simple but well-ordered large city.[1][28][29]
- The three Mulhorandi deities Horus-Re (and Ra before him[30][note 1]), Isis and Osiris shared a realm called Heliopolis on the second layer, Buxenus.[31][32][33]
- Savras the All-Seeing resided in the caverns called the Eye on Buxenus.[34]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ In Planescape material, Ra had Thekele-Re as his realm, while Horus roamed all of Heliopolis. According to Powers & Pantheons, Horus-Re, who emerged after the death of Re, Mulhorandi incarnation of Ra, ruled Thekele-Re.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 86. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (April 1987). “Plane Speaking: Tuning in to the Outer Planes”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #120 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 42–43.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 62. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 73. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 75. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 130–132. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ Frank Mentzer (January 1985). “Ay pronunseeAYshun gyd”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #93 (TSR, Inc.), p. 25.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 151. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 159. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 152. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 62, 63. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 74. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
- ↑ Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), p. 2. ISBN 0786900938.
- ↑ Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), pp. 12–17. ISBN 0786900938.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Jeff Grubb, Bruce R. Cordell, David Noonan (September 2001). Manual of the Planes 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 130–132. ISBN 0-7869-1850-8.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 172. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Colin McComb (February 1995). “Arcadia”. In Michele Carter ed. Planes of Law (TSR, Inc), pp. 18–24. ISBN 0786900938.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 173, 181. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “Cyclopedia of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 15. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 34. ISBN 978-0786903849.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (July 1987). Manual of the Planes 1st edition. (TSR), p. 87. ISBN 0880383992.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (August, 1985). Unearthed Arcana (1st edition). (TSR, Inc.), p. 110. ISBN 0880380845.
- ↑ James Ward, Robert J. Kuntz (August 1980). Deities & Demigods. Edited by Lawrence Schick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 24. ISBN 0-935696-22-9.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 65. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), p. 86. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 109, 114, 120. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Colin McComb (October 1996). On Hallowed Ground. Edited by Ray Vallese. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 86, 88–90. ISBN 0-7869-0430-5.
- ↑ McComb, Colin, and Wolfgang Baur. Planes of Law. Arcadia, pp. 18-21. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 47. ISBN 978-0786906574.
Connections[]
Prime Material plane • Feywild • Shadowfell • Fugue Plane
Transitive Planes: Astral Plane • Ethereal plane
Inner Planes: Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Water • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Chaos
Para-Elemental Planes: Frostfell • Swamp of Oblivion • Fountains of Creation • Great Conflagration
Quasi-Elemental Planes: Lightning • Radiance • Minerals • Steam • Vacuum • Ash • Dust • Salt
Outlands: Sigil
Outer Planes: Arcadia • Mount Celestia • Bytopia • Elysium • Beastlands • Arborea • Ysgard • Limbo •
Pandemonium • Abyss (Layers) • Carceri • Hades • Gehenna • Nine Hells • Acheron • Mechanus
Energy planes: Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
Planar Pathways: Infinite Staircase • Oceanus • Mount Olympus • Styx • Yggdrasil
Far Realm
Prime Material plane • Cynosure • Fugue Plane
Transitive Planes: Astral Plane • Ethereal plane • Plane of Shadow • Spirit World
Celestial Outer Planes: Arvandor • Brightwater • Dwarfhome • Dweomerheart • Gates of the Moon • Golden Hills • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • House of the Triad
Fiendish Outer Planes: Abyss (Layers) • Barrens of Doom and Despair • Blood Rift • Clangor • Deep Caverns • Demonweb Pits • Fated Depths • Fury's Heart • Hammergrim • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne
Neutral Outer Planes: Dragon Eyrie • Heliopolis • House of Nature • Jotunheim • Warrior's Rest
Inner Planes: Elemental Plane of Air • Elemental Plane of Earth • Elemental Plane of Fire • Elemental Plane of Water • Positive Energy plane • Negative Energy plane
Planar Pathways: Infinite Staircase • River of Blood • World Tree
Far Realm
Prime Material plane
Fundamental planes: Astral Sea • Elemental Chaos
Astral dominions: Arvandor • Banehold • Celestia • Cynosure • Deep Wilds • Demonweb Pits • Dismal Caverns • Dwarfhome • Eternal Sun • Fugue Plane • Gates of the Moon • Green Fields • House of Knowledge • Nine Hells • Nishrek • Supreme Throne • Towers of Night • Tu'narath • Warrior's Rest
Elemental realms: Abyss (Layers) • City of Brass • Cresting Spires • Fimbulwinter • Hidden Realm • Muspelheim • Root Hold • Sky Home • Steading • Thraotor • Undying Pyre • Zerthadlun
Parallel planes: Feywild • Shadowfell
Anomalous planes: Far Realm